Some introspection
Right up till the fall of Dhaka the nation continued to be fed on lies by Yahya Khan’s military regime which insisted that army was in full control of the situation in East Pakistan. The followers of a religious party displayed stickers on vehicles with “Allah-o-Akbar Ki Zarb Lagao” printed in prominent letters. When international news channels confirmed the fall of the city, concerns about the fate of relatives and friends in East Pakistan overwhelmed the already traumatised people in West Pakistan.
Blame game was started, followed by conspiracy theories. Yahya, accused of being a drunkard, was held responsible for the debacle and ZAB accused of misleading Yahya. Hindu teachers were said to have created disaffection in East Pakistan while India had sent in soldiers posing as Mukti Bahini to bleed Pakistan Army. It was forgotten that policies pursued by Pakistan’s civilian and military rulers, with each side ruling for twelve years, had caused widespread disaffection in the land of the Muslim League’s birth. The movement for Bengali as one of the national languages was drowned in blood, East Pakistan deprived of equal share in economic and social development and in civil and military jobs. Provincial autonomy was denied. When East Pakistan was left to fend for itself in 1965 war, alienation became particularly strong. A repressive military rule under Ayub proved to be the last proverbial straw that broke the back of the camel.
Soon after Dhaka’s fall rulers, both civilian and military, reverted to their old games. Bhutto launched a military operation in Balochistan after dismissing the first elected government of the province. Later, Musharraf paved the ground for insurgency by getting Akbar Bugti killed. Actions taken by Zia to suppress movement for democracy in Sindh caused alienation in the province. What the present government is doing is further strengthening the feeling.
Speeches delivered and statements issued on the fall of Dhaka indicate that those who matter have learnt nothing from the tragic event. Conspiracy theories and blame games continue as before. There is a need to remove the blinders.